Meet Cassie Ahiers

We were lucky to catch up with Cassie Ahiers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassie, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

In my experience, creative blocks usually stem from a few sources; perfectionism, judgment, and burnout. Notice how I didn’t say a lack of ideas? I try to tell myself that my creativity is an endless burning fire. Some days it feels like an inferno, and others it smolders, but nothing can extinguish it. So on the days it feels like my inspiration is gone, I try to get curious about the block itself. If my creativity is endless, what is stopping me from accessing it?

Often, when it feels like I don’t have any ideas, it means I’m not allowing myself to believe I have any good ideas. My internal perfectionist has stomped all over my little bonfire like some unhinged counselor at sleepaway camp. I have found the best way to take down perfectionism is a form of exposure therapy. Which, in this case, means making Bad Art. I try to channel my inner angsty teen and challenge the perfectionism head on, “Oh you think these ideas are bad? Watch me make something worse!” And Bad Art, with a capital B, is completely subjective to the artist- it’s what that judgy little art snob in my head dislikes. Run in that direction. And sure enough, the more Bad Art I make, the less scary it becomes. It builds a muscle that makes me fearless. I take more risks, and follow my gut instincts without over thinking. It’s made me a better artist. Making Bad Art reminds me to be less precious about any one concept. Good or bad, there will be more art on the way. And as you’ll find, that perfectionist inside you actually doesn’t know what the hell it’s talking about. Sometimes my attempts at Bad Art end up being Interesting Art, or Fun Art, or dare I say, Good Art. Plus, what even is Good Art anyways? That’s gonna have to be an essay for another day.

Back to perfectionism. In my teaching experience, I find that newer artists are often the hardest on themselves in this capacity. I encourage those just starting out to focus on being prolific and not perfect. Make as much as you can. The beginning of your career is a time to explore, experiment, and learn about your voice as an artist. It’s a lot easier to do than when you don’t have deadlines, grant applications, or clients to appease. Make a list of horrible ideas. Work your way through it. You don’t even have to show anyone what you make, but I guarantee something will come from it. I’ve learned far more from my failures than my successes.

And make no mistake, self judgment comes for experienced artists too. You’d think the more awards and acclaim you receive the more confident you get. But the kicker is, it just means the bar has been raised, and the goal is harder to reach. This is when imposter syndrome usually kicks in and suggests that all my previous projects were some kind of singular fluke. When I start to feel this way, I try to take a break from the task at hand and try something new. Experimenting with a new medium or hobby puts me in a beginner’s mindset and gets my ego in check. Being a novice, allows me to relax, have fun, and feel ok with being totally lousy at something. It re-connects me with why I’m an artist to begin with. Not for fame, awards or high paying jobs, but for the pure passion and joy of creation.

Currently, my biggest creative enemy is burnout. Which, if you’re still with me on this whole bonfire metaphor, is obviously a serious threat. When I’m feeling burned out I try to take breaks, go slow and take the pressure off myself. Even if you’re in a time crunch, give yourself some space away from the task at hand. Allowing your brain to reset and focus on something else will make it stronger and faster when you return to the project. Explore your neighborhood, go to a museum, watch a movie, hang out with your friends. Inspiration can be found almost everywhere except for your open word document. And never be afraid to ask for help. Shout out to my friends who hold creative space for me and talk through ideas, read rough drafts, and somehow still pick up the phone when I call. Even a fire that looks extinguished just needs a breath of fresh air to reignite.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a freelance writer, director and comedian. I primarily work in Theater and Film, but have found myself involved in all sorts of creative endeavors from podcasting to multimedia dance pieces to teaching. Sometimes I worry that my work spans too many different mediums, but I find all of my art centers around storytelling. And no matter the medium, my work has a consistent theme, and that’s me. Ok, you can cue the cheesy after-school-special music, but I still mean it! While my creative voice is always evolving, I do know I’m attracted to projects that use comedy as a way to explore deeper concepts. I fiercely believe that comedy can be a bridge to have tough conversations or tackle heavy topics like grief, mental health, or politics. There’s something so uniting about a group of people laughing together, so I strive to make work that is irreverent and playful but also has a heart at its core.

I got my start in Chicago where I received a degree in Theater Directing from Columbia College and immersed myself in the improv and sketch comedy scenes. This led to some incredible opportunities; touring the country as an improviser, directing for the famed Second City, working on the national debut of The Whale at Victory Gardens Theater, and even running a DIY comedy club in the unfinished basement of a brownstone. In 2019, I moved to Los Angeles where I got the opportunity to work as an acting coach for Nickelodeon and make 50+ episodes of television.

At present I’m working on some very exciting projects, and am:
1. Developing my award winning musical, The Mountain Digby.
2. In post production for my newest short film, Aloneness.
3. Headed to WA to climb a Volcano for my upcoming docu-podcast, The Blast Zone.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

While I often joke about how much money I sank into improv classes in my twenties, I have to say, this knowledge has been foundational to my approach as an artist. While I don’t improvise much anymore these days, I still love teaching improv because I find the tools so valuable! The core of improv is the idea of “Yes, And.” In overly simple terms it works like this- Saying “No” stops momentum. Saying “Yes” (and then adding your own contribution to the idea) creates momentum. This tool serves you well when trying to make up a scene in front of an audience, and even more so in life. I have taught the concept to students aged 4-80 and found ways to make it relevant for all sorts of professions from actors to lawyers. So much in our life involves collaboration, and simply starting from a place of “yes” instead of “no” has made the world of difference in my own life.

All in all, I think I have been driven by my passion and creative curiosity. Sure, there could have been *financially* more promising career paths to set out on, but I am certain I would be miserable. Pursuing my art has brought me to places I would have never imagined, like the top of Mount St. Helens, or the Indy 500. It has allowed me to connect and collaborate with hundreds, if not thousands, of artists. One of the reasons I absolutely love being a director is that for every project I work on, I get to learn all about a new topic. Art has brought me closer to the humanity in myself and in others, and in these difficult times, I do not know what I would do without it.

Lastly, I’d say, be tenacious! Be persistent, and go after your goals. My twenties were filled with people telling me to slow down or be more realistic, and frankly that was bad advice! Now I’m in my thirties and some days I wish I had some of that naivety back. When I was younger, I didn’t care if something was realistic, or if the gatekeepers approved. If I could dream it, I would go for it. And it is truly amazing what you can accomplish when you simply don’t know any better. Now I know better, and honestly, sometimes that slows me down. I’m sure when I’m in my forties I’ll reread these answers and fondly think of how naive I am now. But the point is, start practicing blind determination as soon as possible, because those are the muscles you’ll be leaning on for the rest of your career.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The biggest challenge I am facing right now is the tumultuous nature of the film industry in LA. There are a lot of articles about it online you can read, but essentially the landscape of the industry is pretty dire. After a year of labor strikes and job opportunities going to other cities or countries, it seems like everyone I know in the industry is struggling. But it’s during hard times like this, that you can really see what is most important to you as a person and creative. My focus has been on investing in my community. I take solace in the fact that I am not in this position alone, and it is no reflection of my value as an artist. Since many of us are in this together, it’s a great time to make art with each other. Making art on a low budget can be hard, but it also allows you a new kind of freedom. The work I’m creating right now isn’t financing vacations or a down payment on a home, but it is making me feel creatively charged. And that’s not always the case, especially when there are half a dozen executives telling you how to make a thing. In the past, when I’ve worked 60+ hours a week on a tv series, I’ve had no time to write my screenplay or direct a live show. Time is incredibly valuable, and while I have a little more of it right now, I’m going to make the most of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cassieahiers.com
• Instagram: @Cassie_Ahiers

Image Credits

Tim Schmidt
Greer Bratschie
Tyler Davis
Anthony Lombard